A Song for The Planet

Today is World Environment Day. This is a subject that is very close to Chandrani’s heart. And as for Sanjo, almost every show he does has a segment that draws attention to various ecological, conservation, pollution and habitat issues. In fact, as Sanjo The Balladeer, he has an entire show titled Earth Eulogy to spread awareness on sensitive environmental issues.

The title song on Sanjo & Chandrani’s second studio album – Ham Se Hi Hai Yeh Sab – is dedicated to Planet Earth and the urgent need to preserve her fragile ecosystems. It talks about all the damage that humankind is doing to Earth and raises a plaintive cry that says: Stop it – enough is enough!

Chandrani who wrote the lyrics for this moving environmental anthem explains: “The song has a single-minded message: Save the Earth. We aren’t being preachy in this song; we are simply reminding everyone that the environment is a part of us, and we are an integral part of the environment. So if we selfishly destroy our environment, in effect we are destroying ourselves – and future generations.”

The power of this song stems from its honesty and its simplicity. There is no grandstanding or any pontificating. As Chandrani says: “This song is just a cry from the heart; a plea to do our bit to save what we have left today – because if we don’t, all will be lost… we will be lost.”   

Sanjo is gratified by the way the audience responds to this song every time he performs it. “One can clearly see that the song has touched them at some level”, he says. “The wholehearted participation of the audience in the song’s two-line refrain tells me that they identify strongly with the message. And when I see children joining in, it leaves me with hope for the future because these kids are tomorrow’s Change Agents.”

HAM SE HI HAI YEH SAB

Lyrics by: Chandrani

Reproduced here with permission from Chandrani

ZARA ZARA AASMAN GUM HO RAHA HAI KAHIN

THORHI THORHI SIMAT RAHI HAI YEH ZAMEEN

SOCHO ZARA KHO JAAYE NA BEHTI NADI

HAM SE HI HAI YEH SAB

SAB MEIN HAI HAM HI

ANDHERA KAALA DHUAAN WOH CHHOONEY LAGA AASMA

KHONEY LAGA HAI TAARON KA SHAAMIYAANA

OH-HO-HO-HO…

ANDHERA KAALA DHUAAN WOH CHHOONEY LAGA AASMA

KHONEY LAGA HAI TAARON KA SHAAMIYAANA

KAR DO SUBAH KHONEY NA DO APNI ZAMIN

HAM SE HI HAI YEH SAB

SAB MEIN HAI HAM HI

THAAM LO YEH HAWA GUZAR JAANEY NA DO

BAANDH LO YEH MEHAK BIKHAR JAANEY NA DO

PARCHHAAYIYAAN BAN JAAYE NA BAHAAREIN SABHI

HAM SE HI HAI YEH SAB
SAB MEIN HAI HAM HI...

You can listen to a short audio clip of the song here:

Ham Se Hi Hai Yeh Sab by Sanjo &Chandrani on SoundCloud

If you would like to buy the song online, you can find it here:

Buy Ham Se Hi Hai Yeh Sab by Sanjo &Chandrani on OK Listen

If you’d like to get in touch, you can write to Sanjo & Chandrani at: sanjoandchandrani@gmail.com

Can Do, Will Do, Won't Fail!

As a balladeer with a strong social slant to his messaging, Sanjo sings extensively about the problems the world is currently facing – ecological depredation, social injustice, war, civil conflict, poverty, hunger, etc. And yet, the broad overriding message emanated by The Balladeer is always positive. He sings of overcoming these problems, he sings of a triumphant future in which these problems will be a thing of the past.

There is a song on Sanjo & Chandrani’s second album that exemplifies this state of mind. The song is called ‘Haathon Ki Lakeeron Ko’ and it underlines the idea that a positive outlook is a powerful weapon against angst, depression and defeat. With a positive state of mind, one can snatch victory from the very jaws of defeat.

Speaking about this song, Sanjo says: “When Chandrani came up with the lyrics for this song, I realized they were powerful and hard-hitting. And I had to compose the tune in a manner that did justice to the lyrics. At the same time, I wanted to avoid a tone and tenor that sounded preachy or patronising because we were, predominantly, talking to a youth audience. So I gave the song a very smokey-blues kind of flavour and sang it with a sort of Devil-may-care attitude.”

Explaining the lyrics, Chandrani says: “The song is essentially about snatching from Fate, what we want out of Life. It’s about tenacity, willpower, confidence and a never-say-die attitude.”

HAATHON KI LAKEERON KO

Lyrics by: Chandrani

Reproduced here with permission from Chandrani

HAATHON KI LAKEERON KO

MORH KE DIKHAAYENGE

SAPNO MEIN HAI JO CHHUPI

DUNIYA WOH PAYENGE

MANZIL KO YAHAAN KADMON PE LAAYENGE

HAATHON KI LAKEERON KO

MORH KE DIKHAAYENGE

JAAM HAATHON MEIN HAI

SHAAM AANKHON MEIN HAI

HAR GHAM YAHAAN BEH JAAYENGE

AANSOO SE HI KHUSHIYAAN LE AAYENGE

HAATHON KI LAKEERON KO

MORH KE DIKHAAYENGE

RAAT GEHRI MAGAR

CHAAND HAI HAMSAFAR

PARCHHAAYIYAAN GHUL JAAYENGE

RAATON SE HI SUBAH LE AAYENGE

HAATHON KI LAKEERON KO

MORH KE DIKHAAYENGE

SAPNO MEIN HAI JO CHHUPI

DUNIYA WOH PAAYENGE

MANZIL KO YAHAAN KADMON PE LAAYENGE

HAATHON KI LAKEERON KO

MORH KE DIKHAAYENGE

You can listen to a short audio clip of this song here:

Haathon Ki Lakeeron Ko on SoundCloud

You can buy the song along with other songs from the album (Ham Se Hi Hai Yeh Sab) here:

Buy Haathon Ki Lakeeron Ko on OK Listen